How to manage technical documents (only local files)?

[chojny]

Hi,
I'm looking for some way/software (especially freeware, OpenSource) to
manage electronic documents (pdf,doc,ps,ppt,htm). I catalogue my
documents but when it grows to hundreds I slowly lose control.

I'm thinking about creating lists/libraries containing resources about
specific subject.

For example I have files:

file1 (article) about topic1
file2 (---||--) about topic2
file3 (---||--) about topic1&2
file4 (book) about topic1&2&3&4
file5 (book) about topic1&4&5&6

Now, I have aricles such as file1 and file2 in folders "topic1" and
"topic2", respectively, file3 in one of them and books (file4,file5) in
folder "books". It becomes hard to find all resources about given
subject, because I have to review files such as file3,file4 and file5
all the time (to find if they describe this subject). I need some way to
once categorize files and then fast find it by category (topic).

I made lists in text file but must be best solution.

I thought about describing file using "file summary" fields, but without
software able to sort using this fields it wouldn't be solution.

I found out some commercial software to manage/catalogue documents:
WinCatalog, DocuXplorer,... and I test trials now.

I need functionality:
- creating list of files (+virtual catalogues)
- record = document title +link to document (pdf,doc,ppt..), to folder
or www links
- making record by adding file (drag-and-drop will be great option)
- define multiple keywords/categories (topic)
- view files by this categories

I see that WinCatalog is almost what I need.

What can you recommend? Maybe some freeware or opensource software?
How do you manage/catalogue your documents? Do you catalogue physically
your documents or rather create "virtual" libraries?

Any advice will be helpful.

chojny

PS. sorry for my english:)

[DD-354]

Post by chojny
Hi,
I'm looking for some way/software (especially freeware, OpenSource) to
manage electronic documents (pdf,doc,ps,ppt,htm). I catalogue my
documents but when it grows to hundreds I slowly lose control.
I'm thinking about creating lists/libraries containing resources about
specific subject.
file1 (article) about topic1
file2 (---||--) about topic2
file3 (---||--) about topic1&2
file4 (book) about topic1&2&3&4
file5 (book) about topic1&4&5&6
Now, I have aricles such as file1 and file2 in folders "topic1" and
"topic2", respectively, file3 in one of them and books (file4,file5) in
folder "books". It becomes hard to find all resources about given
subject, because I have to review files such as file3,file4 and file5
all the time (to find if they describe this subject). I need some way to
once categorize files and then fast find it by category (topic).
I made lists in text file but must be best solution.
I thought about describing file using "file summary" fields, but without
software able to sort using this fields it wouldn't be solution.
WinCatalog, DocuXplorer,... and I test trials now.
- creating list of files (+virtual catalogues)
- record = document title +link to document (pdf,doc,ppt..), to folder
or www links
- making record by adding file (drag-and-drop will be great option)
- define multiple keywords/categories (topic)
- view files by this categories
I see that WinCatalog is almost what I need.
What can you recommend? Maybe some freeware or opensource software?
How do you manage/catalogue your documents? Do you catalogue physically
your documents or rather create "virtual" libraries?
Any advice will be helpful.
chojny
PS. sorry for my english:)

I have a zip file you can check out at http://www.calrim.com/save/search.zip

Freeware

If you have any questions about using it, email me.

[Milind Joshi]

Post by chojny
Hi,
I'm looking for some way/software (especially freeware, OpenSource) to
manage electronic documents (pdf,doc,ps,ppt,htm). I catalogue my
documents but when it grows to hundreds I slowly lose control.
I'm thinking about creating lists/libraries containing resources about
specific subject.
file1 (article) about topic1
file2 (---||--) about topic2
file3 (---||--) about topic1&2
file4 (book) about topic1&2&3&4
file5 (book) about topic1&4&5&6
Now, I have aricles such as file1 and file2 in folders "topic1" and
"topic2", respectively, file3 in one of them and books (file4,file5) in
folder "books". It becomes hard to find all resources about given
subject, because I have to review files such as file3,file4 and file5
all the time (to find if they describe this subject). I need some way to
once categorize files and then fast find it by category (topic).
I made lists in text file but must be best solution.
I thought about describing file using "file summary" fields, but without
software able to sort using this fields it wouldn't be solution.
WinCatalog, DocuXplorer,... and I test trials now.
- creating list of files (+virtual catalogues)
- record = document title +link to document (pdf,doc,ppt..), to folder
or www links
- making record by adding file (drag-and-drop will be great option)
- define multiple keywords/categories (topic)
- view files by this categories
I see that WinCatalog is almost what I need.
What can you recommend? Maybe some freeware or opensource software?
How do you manage/catalogue your documents? Do you catalogue physically
your documents or rather create "virtual" libraries?
Any advice will be helpful.
chojny
PS. sorry for my english:)

Hi,

There are lots of open source software packages available.
Just search for "document management" on SourceForge and you will find
thousands of them, you can see which one works best for your needs.

However, if your problem is just to find existing content on your PC,
then install a desktop search engine that can index your documents.
The most well-known freeware is google desktop, but there are others
you can pay for too, like dtSearch desktop, etc.

Hope this helps!

Regards,
Milind Joshi
IDEA TECHNOSOFT INC.
http://www.ideatechnosoft.com

[chojny]

Post by Milind Joshi
Hi,
There are lots of open source software packages available.
Just search for "document management" on SourceForge and you will find
thousands of them, you can see which one works best for your needs.
However, if your problem is just to find existing content on your PC,
then install a desktop search engine that can index your documents.
The most well-known freeware is google desktop, but there are others
you can pay for too, like dtSearch desktop, etc.
Hope this helps!
Regards,
Milind Joshi
IDEA TECHNOSOFT INC.
http://www.ideatechnosoft.com

Thanks a lot for hints.
chojny